Our counselors in New Haven, CT offer child therapy

I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with 12 years of experience providing care across outpatient, intensive outpatient, in-home, and telehealth settings. I support children, adolescents, adults, parents, families, and older adults. My background includes crisis work and treating concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, family conflict, autism spectrum differences, grief, addiction, and life transitions.

I earned my master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Southern Connecticut State University. My experience includes community and clinical work supporting individuals with trauma, PTSD, OCD, and conduct disorders. I use cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, play-based, creative, and therapeutic-gaming approaches.

I aim to offer a culturally sensitive, collaborative environment where you feel valued and supported. Together, we will identify your strengths, develop effective coping skills, and explore new perspectives that bring clarity and relief. My goal is to help you move toward meaningful growth and create lasting change in your daily life.

Clevetta Gilliam, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, brings 40 years of experience supporting individuals through life’s challenges, including relationship struggles, loss, stress, and trauma. She is dedicated to creating a supportive, trusting therapeutic space where clients can explore their concerns and move toward more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Clevetta empowers preteens through seniors to discover resilience and embrace positive change, encouraging growth both personally and within their relationships.

Clevetta earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She integrates psychodynamic and family systems perspectives with cognitive-behavioral strategies, incorporating holistic stress management approaches such as mindfulness, diet, and exercise to help clients build healthier coping skills.

Clevetta is passionate about serving Black, Brown, and Caucasian adolescents, survivors of domestic violence, and those healing from sexual assault. She is committed to advancing research on generational trauma and strives to provide care that fosters empowerment, healing, and hope for every client she serves.

Tavia Briscoe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 9 years of dedicated clinical experience specializing in crisis intervention and supporting children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Throughout her career, she has provided compassionate, solution-focused counseling that empowers clients to navigate stress, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Tavia strives to create a warm and collaborative environment where every client feels heard, valued, and equipped with practical tools to promote personal growth and lasting emotional well-being.

Tavia earned her Master’s in Social Work from Springfield College. She supports individuals and families as they navigate life’s complexities, using evidence-based practices to promote healing and resilience. Tavia is dedicated to helping her clients embrace positive change and thrive.

Tavia believes in creating a warm, collaborative environment where clients feel safe, heard, and supported. Her holistic style emphasizes practical strategies to reduce stress, build confidence, and improve relationships. Tavia takes pride in guiding her clients toward lasting growth, self-discovery, and an enhanced sense of well-being in their daily lives.

Mark Blanchard is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate with 1 year of experience supporting clients through a variety of mental health challenges. He works with individuals across diverse backgrounds and diagnoses. Mark’s goal is to provide compassionate, individualized care that empowers clients to establish meaningful goals and make measurable progress. He is committed to fostering a safe, respectful therapeutic environment where clients feel heard and supported in their healing journey.

Mark holds a Master’s in Counseling and Human Services from Post University. He utilizes a person-centered, strengths-based approach to care, focusing on therapeutic strategies that align with each client’s unique needs. Mark believes in meeting clients where they are and guiding them toward growth at their own pace.

Clients describe Mark as warm, supportive, and genuinely invested in their well-being. He is an active listener who creates a space for clients to explore concerns openly. With a calm and caring presence, Mark is dedicated to helping clients work through challenges and uncover their resilience.

Joseph Seele is a Licensed Professional Counselor with thirty years experience. Joe has a comprehensive understanding of mental health and substance abuse systems of care. HE received his BA from ECSU and received his MS in community mental health, specializing in clinical psychology with adults, from Trinity College of Vermont. Joseph is a Cognitive Behavioral based therapist. It is Joe's firm belief that through the use of best practice models and solution focused approaches, positive outcomes will be achieved. Strengths based perspectives allow for all talents and skills of the individual to be part of the solution. Joe's a firm believer that the key to success is a strong therapeutic relationship. He utilizes a holistic approach in developing strategies that best address client needs.

Cristina Perera is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) that has been working in private practice for over 15 years, working with an eclectic range of adults and seniors, from trauma survivors of 911 and the Sandy Hook shootings, to everyday families looking for support and expert care. She specializes in treating abuse, trauma, depression, family conflict, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, and more. 

She earned her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Connecticut State University and has been a Keynote Speaker on behalf of The National Collation for Domestic Violence. Her many years of work with individuals with disabilities have also given her a strong knowledge of helping people on the autism spectrum. 

Work together with Cristina to empower yourself to take on new situations and relationships with confidence and newfound understanding. With her help, you can work to achieve your goals and improve your emotional wellbeing, one session at a time. Cristina believes that everyone has individual needs and preferences in therapy, and she works to accommodate as needed.

Lahaysha Mike is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) who has a wealth of knowledge to serve adults with anxiety, depression, anger management, or any other challenging life issues. Lahaysha completed her Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health at Central Connecticut State University. 

Lahaysha will work with you to come up with and execute your goals whether they are building self-esteem, improving communication skills, or helping you change a behavior you don’t like. She provides a safe space where you can work through your challenges through role play, exposure therapy, or figuring out an alternative solution together. Lahaysha likes to help her clients get to the root of their problems by showing them that change isn’t just taking you out of your comfort zone, but also a progressive transformation into the person you build yourself up to be. She is here to help build confidence, a more positive self-talk that you can use even when you are not feeling it that day. 

Lahaysha knows that it can be hard to make that first move towards a newer you, but she’ll be here with you every step of the way, providing you with the tools you will need to make that vision of your future self a reality. 

Melissa Pagan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. She is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families address their unique challenges and live more fulfilled lives. Melissa specializes in depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, anger, behavioral issues, child therapy, family conflict, parenting, self-esteem, relationship issues, and major life transitions.

Melissa completed her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Southern CT State University. Melissa utilizes multiple treatment approaches including mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy (SFT), and much more.

Melissa is confident that she would be able to support you on your unique journey in order to gain new perspectives and techniques that allow you to cope with whatever you may be struggling with. Your journey is not a straight line, If you are ready to understand your journey and to work on it, schedule an appointment with Melissa today.

Elina Flit is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who specializes in providing diagnostic assessments and counseling to adult clients with diverse concerns including substance use, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, emotional regulation, career, interpersonal challenges, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Elina completed her Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern Connecticut State University and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She is fluent in English and Russian.

Elina seeks to build an accepting and caring relationship with you. She will collaborate with you on ways to enhance your strengths and apply them toward creating positive and meaningful changes in your life. Elina will create a personalized treatment plan that meets your specific needs, utilizing strength-based, person-centered, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness-based, and dialectical behavioral approaches to therapy.